The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-23
STEAMERS In COLLISION.
STEAMSHIPS BRITANNIC AND GEL
TIC COLLIDE IN MID-OCBAN.

During d OSIlSo rOS inc (9lGlC OaSh6S
Into the Britannia, Causing Great
Damage Several Steerage Passen-
gers Reported Killed and Wounded
Cowardly Conduct of the Firemen
NEW YORK, May 22.-Thursday, May 10,
at 5:o5 o'clock i'll the afternoon, while the
weather was calm and the sea smooth,
with dense fog, the steamer Celtic, of the
White Star Line, from Liverpool, came
into collision with the steamer Britannia, of
the same line, from New York for Liver
pool, striking her on the port side aft and
doing considerable damage. The Britannic's
boats were lowered and filled with the
women and children from the cabin and
steerage III very orderly and expeditions
manner.
PUSILLANIMOUS CONDUCT.
1t is to their shame that several of the
men forced themselves into the boats also.
Meanwhile, an examination was
madeand the damage to the
Britannia ascertained, and it being
found that the vessel was not likely to foun-
der such boats as were within hail were re-
called and their occupants received on board.
Others, however, had already boarded the
Celtic. A pad was made and placed over
the hole in the Brtannic's side, and she was
turned about towards New York, having
arranged with the Celtic to keep in COM
pany.
SEVERAL STEERAGE PASSENGERS KILLED
AND WOUNDED.
The saddest result of the accident is that
several of the Storage passengers, who were
ounging about aft at the time of the col
lision, were killed and several others in
iured Both vessels were accompanied by
|ho c+nar,,cbiy,c MaraDoo from Swapcoo
for New York, and the British
Queen, from Liverpool for
New York They arrived at the bar at l
o'clock this morning.
REFUSES FURTHER INFORMATION.
The above report is from the purser of
the Britannia who refused any further in
formation. Both of the steamers are an
chored off the bar, being detained by the
fog.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
One report says that one man and three
women were killed, while another says the
victims were one woman a child aged 13
and five men.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
It is now said that James Trowbridge and
three female steerage passengers were in
stantly killed in the collision. There were
many affecting scenes on the dock when the
passengers arrived up tonight Fathers,
mothers, sisters, relatives and friends met
and hugged and kissed each other
with the greatest possible affec-
ton. The steerage and cabin passen-
gers mingled in one common throng,
and while the friends of both were taken
away to their homes, there were over fifty
poor women and children with few men
who had escaped with just what they stood
up IN. Some even had not full complement
of wearing apparel, and one poor woman
had to take off one of her skirts to cover her
babe with.
DASTARDLY CONDUCT OF THE FIREMEN
The scene, when several of the firemen
rushed for the boats, was described by lady
passenger with agreat deal of emotion. She
said the firemen, nine of them, jumped into
the boat and were ordered back by the Cap
tain. Mrs. Brown says she did not see the
Captain present a pistol, but she knows
that he said he would kill any man who at
tempted TO get in that boat again or any
other until the women were saved. They
We're then taken on board the Celtic. The
accident occurred about $50 in the after
noon. noon. There was no sea ON at
the time, but the ground swell
was heavy, and jump from
the deck would have landed one in the
water, as the boats were bobbing up and
down at great rate Eight or ten people
were injured by the iron work as it fell or
The wood work as it was crushed in board
DANGEROUSLY INJURED.
Four of these were too dangerously
wounded to be taken care of on the steamer
after it arrived outside the bar to-day, and
were brought on the steamer Fletcher to
Vincent Hospital. They were boy, George
Robinson, and Patrick Burke, aged Al, of
Wllkesbarre, Pa, who was taking his wife
on visit TO Ireland; A. NJ. Lawler,
aged %. who was on his
way from st. Louis to ireland,
and a young woman named Rose Kelly.
burke has his ribs fractured and suffered
severe internal injuries, and LAWYERS hip
was dislocated, his ribs fractured, and he
slu1erlng greatly from the shock. These
men are in critical condition. Rose Kelly
was injured about the back and legs.
WERE BODIES THROWN ovERBo ARD?
The steerage passengers state that the
known killed included three men, woman
and the girl. But they added their belief
that two or three others whom they had not
seen since the collision might be among the
dead and were thrown overheard, as they
say bodies were thrown over during the
night
PILOT DESCRIBES THE ACCIDENT.
Charles Richardson, man who has had
some practical experience as n st. George
channel pilot, described what he saw Of the
"oNiucHU as IOllOWS: III was thursday
night about o'clock and we were about 800
mile miles out, should judge. | heard shout
Vnat the Celtic was heading in to u.s. stood
on the starboard side aft the
nlzzenmast and ran to the port side round
the deck house. The Celtic, as the vessel
subsequently, proved to be, was coming dead
ahead full on one beam said sure she'll
SStrlke us; and saw her trying to veer off,
put she was too close.
THOUGHT THEY WOULD PASS FREE.
.o When first saw her the Celtic was about
Doo yards away. 1t was foggy and | think
we We're both going under half steam.
Chought when / saw her veer that she
would just miss us, and the Captain of the
SSeluc was going to shake hands with our
1aptan of the bridge as the Celtic
paSSed alongside, but when ! saw he
tpd tpud not miss us jumped forward before
.ne inainmast on the port side TO avoid being
,s ssSruck by the falling timbers or rigging.
i,He ime pow OF the Celtic crashed into our boat
just forward of the mizzenmast.
THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
AS she scraped our side with her nose on
V our deck l could feel the shock and hear
e,le heads of the bolts fly off one after
aanotler like the rattle of light field bat
io iI5iy IN action. went below 70 look after a
tI1oy who was under my care, and saw that